The Invisible Trade.

Essay 6: The "Invisible" Trade

Headline: The $600 Billion Secret: The Power of the Informal Sector

Mainstream economists obsess over GDP, but in Africa, the real economy happens in the streets. The informal sector accounts for over 80% of employment in many regions. From the "Mama Mbogas" of Kenya to the Alaba International Market in Nigeria, this is where the money moves.

The next wave of "Unicorn" startups won't be those trying to formalize these markets, but those that digitize them. When you build tools that give an informal trader access to credit and inventory management, you unlock a dormant giant. The most successful African tech isn't replacing the market stall; it’s putting the market stall on the blockchain